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Auditor race begins

HELENA – The first two candidates, one Republican and one Democrat, have announced candidacies for state auditor.

Both Champ Edmunds, a Republican, and Jesse Laslovich, a Democrat, have served in the state Legislature.

Edmunds is a Missoula banker and former submariner.

“As your auditor, I will work hard on your behalf by running a responsible agency that can be counted on to watch over public interests. I will help you with your insurance problems and go after scam artists who try to take our hard-earned money,” Edwards said in announcing his candidacy.

Laslovich is an Anaconda native and deputy auditor. He’s also been chief legal counsel for the state auditor’s office and was assistant attorney general in the state department of justice.

“I’ve dedicated my life to protecting Montana consumers, holding big insurance companies accountable, and fighting out-of-state special interests. I’m running for state auditor to continue this work. I will be an advocate in our courts and at the Capitol, prosecuting white-collar criminals and working hard to keep our public lands safe,” he said in his candidacy announcement.

Current auditor Monica Lindeen is ineligible to run again in 2016 because of term limits but is expected to appear on the ballot in the secretary of state election.